Blue-printing apparatus.



R. HERMAN.

BLUE PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 12, 1914. REN'EWED JUNE 21.1915.

1,147,693. Patented July 20, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH couwAsnmziTofi. n. c.

UNTTEI) STATES PATENT ()FIFIOE.

REINHOLI) HERMAN, OF GRAFTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

.BLUE-PRINTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 12, 1914, Serial No. 811,567. Renewed June 21, 1915. Serial No. 35,436.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, REINHOLD HERMAN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Grafton, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blue- Printing Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in blue-printing apparatus, and has particular relation to means for controlling the position of the curtainiin the formation of the print receiving throat.

In the operation of blue print apparatus of the type employing a curtain adapted to be laid over a .glassplate in securing the paper and sheetto be printed therebetween, and especially in apparatus in which this curtain-laying movement is by means of a roller adapted to travel about the periphery of acylinder, difficulty is had in positioning the paper and sheet beneath the curtain; this is due to the necessity for meeting several conditions. For instance, one of the essentials in placing the print and sheet in position is, that the curtain shall act somewhat similar to a squeegee in orderthat the wrinkles, etc., shall be taken out of the sheet to be printed; this necessitates a close hugging of the curtain .to the cylinder duringthe travel of the roller. Where the sheet to be printed is of relatively large size (approximating the length of the cylinder), this difliculty is taken care of generally by the curtain supporting means now in general use, only one positioning of the sheet being required in order that it may be properly gripped along and adjacent to its inner end. Where, however, the sheet to be printed is of a comparatively small size, such as would enable several sheets to be arranged lengthwise of the cylinder in approximate alinement, the difficulties referred to are immediately encountered, since the positioning of one sheet would require that the curtain be unwound for a portion of the distance while the sheets and prints are being held by the operator, and this movement of the curtain necessarilyhas had the effect of closing up the remaining space lengthwise of the cylinder not occupied by the sheet. This movement of the curtain, while not over the'entire surface of thesheet, has been over a sufficient amount thereof tocause the curtain to practically clamp the sheet in position. Therefore, when the next sheet is to be inserted its inner end will be out of alinenient with the inner end of the sheet previously positioned, and the clamping of this sheet will necessitate a further movement of the sheet, thus placing the receiving mouth or throat for the succeeding sheets still farther from the inner end of the first positioned sheet. Consequently, the successive positionings of the sheets practically places them out of alinement, so that when the cylinder has been loaded, a considerable portion of its surface will be unoccupied, resulting in a restriction in the output with a resultant increase in the cost per sheet due to the fact that the current consumption of the lamp would be the same whether the machine were loaded throughout or in the manner described. While attempts have been made to meet this condition, as by the formation of a constant open throat to receive the sheet and print, the throat being closed only when thecurtain has been moved throughout the length of travel of the roller, the result is unsatisfactory because of the inability to provide the maximum pressure on the sheet until the roller has traveled a distance considerably in advance of the sheet itself. Another disadvantage lies in the fact that the throat is of comparatively small size, making it difiicult to introduce sheets without disturbing adjacent sheets.

The present invention has for its objects the overcoming of these disadvantages, this result being obtained by providing means formoving the curtain to provide the printreceiving throat or mouth at any point within the travel of the roller at will, and to form the throat of a size which will permit of rapid and easy manipulation of the sheet and print paper without affecting adjacent sheets or without eliminating the desired squeegee action, thus enabling the mouth or throat to be formed, the sheets and paper entered, the throat closed, and the roller moved with its squeegee-action until the point where the succeeding line of-sheets is to be entered is reached, whereupon the throat is again formed, the sheets and paper introduced, the throat closed, and the succeeding squeegee action takes place, this ac tion continuing until the cylinder is loaded. Other objects are to provide an apparatus Patented July 20, 1915.

for producing these results in a simple and efficient manner, and which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views :Figure l is a sectional view taken vertically through a portion of a printing cylinder, and showing the curtain and its supporting roller in position thereon, my improved means being shown in position on the curtain-carrier. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 0J00 of Fig. l, the parts being in the position with the throat closed. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the parts in position to form the throat, and Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4f of Fig. 1.

For the purpose of illustrating my present invention, I have shown it as applied to a curtain support of the type described and claimed in my companion application filed May 8, 1913, Serial No. 766,374, but this showing is simply as an example structure, the present invention being applicable for use in connection with any printing apparatus employing a roller adapted to travel about the cylinder for the purpose of placing the curtain in position thereon, which roller is supported to permit a yielding movement away from the cylinder.

In the drawings, the cylinder is indicated at 10, the roller at 11, the roller shaft at 11, the roller carrier at 12, and the operating handle at 13, the cylinder having suitable ways, indicated at 10 on which the support may travel. The curtain is indicated at 14. In the construction shown, the roller is yieldably-supported in its support by the springs 15, which act to provide the inward pressure by which the squeegee action is obtained; obviously, any other suitable means may be employed for providing this particular action, such means, similarly to the springs, permitting the roller to yield outwardly as required.

The difficulties heretofore referred to will be readily understood by referring to Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, noting the positions of the curtain throat in these two views. In Fig. 2, it will be seen that the throat formed by cylinder and curtain immediately beneath the roller is closed; obviously, a. sheet and print paper could not be inserted between the curtain and cylinder, owing to the pressure exerted by the springs 15. Consequently, it will be necessary to position the sheet and print-paper,

and then move the carrier in the direction of the arrow to cause the curtain to grip a sufficient surface of the sheet to retain it in position before the succeeding sheet-positioning action could be had.

On the contrary, Fig. 3 shows the throat, indicated at 16, as open (the throat in this view being greatly in excess of that obtained by prior structures), allowing the sheet and paper to be introduced. As heretofore pointed out, prior structures have this throat constant throughout the major por tion of the travel of the roller, the curvature of the cylinder providing the closing action of the inner end of the throat as the roller travels, the consequence being that the pressure which produces the squeegee action is not provided beneath the roller, but is that due to the pull on the curtain as it is unwound and this action takes place at the inner end of the throat. In other words, the pressure is provided by the operator drawing on the curtain during its unwinding action, and therefore approximating a direction concentric with the cylinder.

The present invention,which is also shown in operative position in Figs. 2 and 3, overcomes these objections by making it possible to produce the enlarged throat of Fig. 3, within which the sheets and paper are received, after which, the roller is allowed to return to the position of Fig. 2, clamping the sheets and paper in position so that the travel of the roller is similar in effect to that of the squeegee with respect to the sheets and paper clamped in position, thereby obtaining, not only the drawing effect produced by prior devices, but in addition, enabling the springs 15 to apply their pressure additionally; incidentally, the closing of the throat will have a similar action to that provided in the class of devices heretofore referred to. However, the fact that the roller is brought to the position of Fig. 2 after the sheet has been positioned, enables the clamping action to be had considerably in advance of that provided by prior devices in the travel of the roller, since the throat is entirely closed in the present invention, whereas, it is simply shifted as the roller travels. Various ways of producing this result may be pro vided, a preferred form being shown in the drawings, this being simple and e'flicient in construction and operation, and readily manipulated.

The particular construction shown comprises a sleeve 20, carried by the rod or handle 13, this sleeve carrying a pair of arms 21 at suitable points, preferably opposite the cylinder flanges, said arms 21 being connected with bell-crank levers 22, by means of links 23, the levers 22 being pivotally mounted on the shafts 11*, with one end of the lever provided with a member adapted to contact with the cylinder flange; in the drawings, this member is shown as a roller designated 24:. The sleeve is provided with a handle 25, and, if desired, I may limit the pivotal movement of the sleeve 20 in suitable manner as by the use of a pin and slot arrangement as shown in Fig. t, the object of which will be explained. As shown, I preferably arrange the levers at opposite ends of the roller thereby providing a similar movement to both ends of the roller structure.

The operation of the device will be understood from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3, Fig. 2 showing the means in a normal position, the curtain being in contact with the cylinder thus closing the throat. When it is desired to insert a sheet or sheets, the handle 25 is moved in the direction of the arrow (1)) in Fig. 2, the result being that the lever 22 will be moved to the position shown in Fig. 3, and forcing the roller outwardly in its support, which operation has the effect of opening the throat 16. As this position provides the maximum outward movement of the roller, I prefer. that the movement of the lever beyond this point be prevented, and this is the purpose of the pin and slot arrangement shown in Fig. 4, the pin contacting with one end of the slot when the lever is in this position. After the sheets and paper have been inserted into the throat, the handle 25 is moved in the direction of the arrow (0) in Fig. 3, this movement having the efiect of returning the lever 22 to the position shown in Fig. 2, the movement of the lever permitting the roller to return to its contacting position, and providing the rolling action on the sheets and paper. The operator then draws the roller around by grasping the sleeve 20, this having no effect in changing the position of the lever 22, the result being that the effective pressure of the springs 15 will be exerted during the travel of the roller in addition to the drawing effect provided by the operator.

WVhen sheets and paper have been covered by the curtain, the movement of the roller may be stopped and the handle 25 manipulated to move the parts to the position of Fig. 3. Since the squeegee action has been had throughout the surface of the sheet, and the throat is not of a length suflicient to release the sheets, it will be readily understood that the formation of the throat at this time will not affect the position of the sheets and paper, but, on the contrary, the fact that the squeegee action has been had in reaching this position, will enable the throat to be closed without liability of having the sheets or paper wrinkled.

It will be understood, of course, that the roller can travel in the position shown in Fig. 3, thus providing for a throat-closing action along the lines of prior devices. It will also be understood that by reason of the relatively wide mouth, the operator can place the sheets and paper in position so as to pass to the extreme inner end of the throat and be slightly gripped, the width of the mouth enabling the fingers to pass therein so as to accurately position the inserted matter within the throat.

Other advantages will be readily apparent. For instance, the structure is exceedingly simple and effective in action; it can be readily installed; is in position directly under the control of the operator; is inexpensive to manufacture, and can be applied to various types of printing apparatus using roller curtains.

While I have herein shown and described one way in which my invention may be carried into efi'ect, it will be readily understood that changes and modifications therein may be required or desired to meet the exigencies of use, and I therefore desire to reserve the right to make any and all such changes and modifications as may be found necessary, in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In blue-printing apparatus, the combination with a printing cylinder, a traveling roller, and a curtain positionable by movements of the roller, of means for laying the curtain with an open or closed materialreceiving throat at will.

2. In blue-printing apparatus, the combination with a printing cylinder, a traveling roller, and a curtain positionable by movements of the roller, of means for forming an open material-receiving throat within the travel limits of the roller at will.

3. In blue-printing apparatus, the combination with a printing cylinder, a traveling roller, and a curtain positionable by move ments of the roller, of means for shifting the roller to provide an open or closed materialreceiving throat within the travel limits of the roller at will.

4:. In blue-printing apparatus, the combi nation with a printing cylinder, a traveling roller, and a curtain positionable by movements of the roller, of means for shifting the roller to provide an open or closed materialreceiving throat within the travel limits of the roller at will, said means being carried by and movable with the curtain carrier.

5. In blue-printing apparatus, the combination with a printing cylinder, a traveling roller, and a curtain positionable by move ments of the roller, of means for shifting the roller to provide an open or closed materialreceiving throat within the travel limits of the roller at will, said means including a lever carried by the roller shaft and having an element adapted to contact with the printing cylinder to move the roller outwardly.

i0 printing cylinder to move the roller outwardly, and an element carried by the curtain carrier for moving said lever into and out of cylinder contact at will.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

REIN HOLD HERMAN.

Witnesses:

A. M. WILSON, JAMES M. SPEAK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

